Get your kettle boiling because its time to brew white tea. Keep in mind that white tea is delicate and careful preparation is key to a perfect cup. You paid good money for your loose leaf tea…enjoy it!Here are some helpful tips to avoid a spoiled cup of white tea.

Start with a well rinsed kettle (glass kettles for best results) and natural spring water, or well filtered water (non distilled). Avoid using regular tap water since the impurities will result in an altered tasting brew. And depending where you reside, these chemicals can be greater in numbers.

Let boil for two or three minutes and then settle for about a minute. Avoid pouring boiling water on the delicate white tea leaves for it will burn them and kill the taste.

Make sure your infuser is large enough for the leaves to fully open and steep. Add a little more leaves as well (about 2 teaspoons per cup) since white tea is lighter in taste.

Let steep for the instructed time your white tea came with. If you do not have steeping directions, a good indicator is as follows: for Silver Needle types, let steep for 2 to 3 minutes. For White Peony and other varieties; 5 to 7 minutes should do the trick, but no longer than that. Remember that over-steeping tea can result in a bitter cup!

Do Not add milk! White tea is meant to be enjoyed straight up. That is what it’s known for…a natural and delicate taste. Adding milk is unheard of and will surely ruin the experience. Honey is fine if you want to sweeten it up a bit.

Also avoid using artificial sweeteners when you brew white tea for this too will alter the taste.

And of course enjoy!

I like to sometimes accompany my white tea with graham crackers. It makes for a great after-dinner snack.

When you first set eyes on the Braun WK600, you say “Wow! what a stylish, great looking item! This would look good in my kitchen!”

But this Braun electric kettle only performs half as good as it looks. Basically, it is just rates average, and is like putting a Mercedes shell over a Toyota (the real Mercedes being Braun’s WK200B model).

Not too say this kettle doesn’t do its job. It is both easy to fill and easy to clean, as well as a quick boiler (about 75 secs per cup). Folks also love the cord storage which means it can stay flush against the counter wall without a messy thick plastic “snake” behind it.

Great for making tea, instant soups, coffee, and oatmeal when in a hurry, but not so great for travel due to its heavy body. And be careful when near the exterior! It tends to get HOT! Some say it sometimes leaks which isn’t so good.

Here’s a run down.

Braun WK600 Pros

sturdy stainless steel construction

convenient cord storage

easy to clean

easy to fill

spill free pouring

heating elements not present inside kettle

boils water at an acceptable rate

Braun WK600 Cons

some complain about rust-like stains after a while

kettle is heavy (5 pounds)

some plastic parts along with stainless steel

kettle tends to leak at base

small gauge makes it difficult to read water level

is rather noisy when doing its job

its overall life expectancy doesn’t justify its price tag

So, is this kettle worth buying or skipping?

The truth is, there are other choices, and if the cons outweigh the pros, then maybe it is better selecting something else. I for sure do not like the fact that it may leak! That could be a real electrical hazard!

I would recommend folks considering this to check out Adagio’s UtiliTEA kettle also. It too is made of stainless steel, boils water extremely fast (faster than the WK600!), and does not seem to inherit the same problems/cons as this Braun electric kettle.

Another option is to go with the more expensive Braun WK200B or WK200W, both of which get much better reviews! Only drawback is, they do not have the same stainless steel style.

White Peony white tea was my first loose leaf tea experience, and still remains one of my favorites.

This tea is the second “youngest” grading of white tea, falling under Silver Needle that when plucked contains less buds and more leaf, and unlike Silver Needle, does not consist of long needle-like leaves, and instead has semi-opened wider leaves. These leaves do however have tiny white fuzzy hairs present which gives white tea its name.

What I favor about this tea is the natural sweet & fruity taste that it produces, as well as the beautiful golden color of the liquor. Folks may notice that the aroma is stronger (yet pleasant) and not as airy as like some other varieties of white tea.

For folks who have a sweet tooth, this tea is accompanied quite nice/y with some pure honey as well.

This Adagio variety of White Peony white tea is also called “Bai Mu Dan”, and like their Silver Needle variety is grown in China’s Fujian Province.

As mentioned, the brew of this tea is a bit darker and fruitier than Silver Needle and requires a couple of minutes more steeping time, usually about 5 minutes total is the perfect balance (Adagio recommends 7 minutes).

Also, the tea is low in caffeine, containing less than green or black tea, which makes it a perfect evening beverage to enjoy while relaxing the day’s stress away before falling asleep.

If you are a newcomer to white tea, giving white peony a try is a great place to start.

Tulsi tea offers a wide variety of suggested health benefits as do all teas and herbal teas do.

Tulsi tea which is also known as holy basil tea, is an herb native to India but also grows wild in the tropics and other warm regions.

Folks have been using the leaves of the tulsi plant dating as far back as 5000 BC.!

Although Tulsi having the word “tea” at the end of its name, is not a real tea, but instead is an herbal tea. That is, it does not come from the same Camellia sinensis bush as traditional white, green, oolong, and black teas do.

Some health benefits offered by drinking Tulsi herbal tea are…

Helps fight infections and increases the immune system due to its high antibacterial and antiviral properties.

May help folks who suffer with arthritis and headaches by abating inflammation.

Helps with digestive issues and gastrointestinal problems and may help cure certain ulcers.

Lowers cholesterol and promotes a healthier heart.

Tulsi tea when blended with honey and ginger, makes an all natural herbal remedy for asthma, influenza, and bronchitis.

The brew of this herbal tea also helps relive sore throats and is useful against cough and cold symptoms.

Like Essaic tea, it is good for the circulatory system and helps purify the blood.

Can help prevent and reduce feverish conditions.

Is good for the nerves and has evidence in sharpening memory as well as acting as an anti-stress agent.

Tulsi herbal tea is another herbal tea on my list that I haven’t tried yet…so at this time I cannot give an opinion on how it tastes.

I will update this page soon after I experience tulsi herbal tea, as well as recommend a good online merchant where you can pick some up.

Also see…

Tetley tea bags are a great way to make a fast hot cup of tea…if you’re in a rush out the door.

The company uses a blend of Assam, African, and Indonesian teas in their most common product which are ordinary tea bags with an “orange pekoe” grading of blended black teas.

If forced to drink tea by brewing from a tea bag, Tetley would be my second choice.

The taste of Tetley’s brew is average and nothing compared to the brew I get from loose leaf tea. The aroma is ok, and the flavor is plain, sweet, malty, and medium-bodied. If drunk straight, one may notice bitter notes for an aftertaste. However this is expected after being used to gourmet loose leaf.

This is the way over 90 percent of Americans consume their tea…by the bag…and are unaware of the true flavor and enjoyment of loose leaf tea brewing. Hopefully my site’s insight introduces and changes this common way.

How did Tetley tea start?

The company was founded in 1837 by brothers Joseph and Edward Tetley. The brothers parted sometime later leaving Joseph as the sole proprietor of the tea company which he later named “Joseph Tetley & Co., Wholesale Tea Dealers”.

In 1871, Joseph Tetley brought his son Joseph Tetley Junior into his partnership, and later died in 1889.

Tetley Junior continued his father’s successful tea business opening multiple plants in America. And after the Second World War, Tetley’s small tea bag products became a well-known commodity.

Today, Tetley tea is one of America’s favorite tea products for brewing both hot and iced teas. Their products are sold in almost every supermarket in the United States.

Besides black tea, Tetley also offers green, herbal, and decaffeinated teas as well. These too are ok products if one wants a switch from the ordinary cup and try something different.

One of my favorites greens for Adagio is “Pi Lo Chun”, and one of my favorite loose green teas from Dragonwater Tea is Zhejiang Mao Feng.

This loose green tea produces a clean vegetal taste with a pleasant aftertaste that warms the palate and reminds you what a Chinese green tea is all about! Mellow and sweet with a nice hint of subtle grassiness. A perfect “rainy afternoon tea”…or at least that’s when I enjoy it the most.

Usually it is the Fujian Province of China that processes all of the fine green varieties, however this tea is born in the Zhejiang Province and for the price definitely rivals its Fujian cousins!

As for preparation of this tea, treat it as if it were Sencha. If you’re not sure what that means, here is what you do:

Wet the leaves with cold water while in the infuser. Then heat your kettle to a steaming point (not boiling). Steep for about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, no longer! This part is important! Anything over that and your tea will have a weird “zangy”, almost bitter taste.

For some reason, these leaves are very delicate to temperature.

I believe fans of Chinese green tea will appreciate this special variety!

Young Hyson, a Chinese green tea offered by Dragonwater.com, brews a more “darker” cup of green that is very similar to some oolong teas.

There is a hint of “woodiness” in this tea, which some Chinese oolongs are noted for, yet several green tea characters are still present. At first glance, I thought this tea would be more on the smoky side and not provide the same unique vegetal notes that some of my favorite greens contain.

However, with this tea that is not the case. It is an interesting green, almost like a green-oolong hybrid. For folks who love oolong tea, yet wish it had some slight green tea flavor…this variety is worth the steep. (or should that be written the other way around?)

In a way, Xue Ya Ballard green tea (still figuring out how to pronounce it), reminds me a lot like Pi Lo Chun tea since the leaves of both varieties are very similar in appearance and even feel.

Granted these are two very different teas, Pi Lo Chun having a more rounded curly shape along with a slightly more complex sweet vegetal taste, coming from the Fujian province. Where Xue Ya Ballard is harvested out of China’s Keemun region with longer curly leaves.

Many folks describe the flavor of this light green tea as being fruity, nutty, slightly smoky, and mildly vegetal. After a couple of cups, I noticed most of these subtle nuances along with an interesting aftertaste that is hard to describe. It is not flat, but it is also not that flavorsome either. Just a quick burst of green-tea-like flavor that quickly vanishes. It is almost sweet and slightly “tangy” in a way.

I like this tea, and it also reminds me of “White Monkey” and Dragonwell tea, just not with as much depth.

Brew this as you would with most Chinese green tea, 180 to 185 degrees for 3 full minutes is perfect! Adding a drop of honey is not such a bad idea either for folks with a sweet tooth.

Generally, we see more Black tea coming out of the Keemun region such as leaves used for English Breakfast tea, or used for blending with natural flavors, herbs, and spices.

Green tea is not all that common out of this region, at least I have not experienced any other then this Xue Ya Ballard green tea variety. I’m sure there are more though!

Adagio Teas Wuyi Ensemble oolong tea at first appearance (or scent) may seem like it will be a strong, woody, and overpowering tea.

However, once sipped folks will know that this is not the case as this beverage although full bodied, warm, and smooth, also has a sort of light delicate side that is slightly floral, woody, smoky, and sometimes a little nutty. There are many interesting complex nuances going on here, each coming forth stronger than the other as it cools and in further steeps.

It has nice depth, but does not overwhelm the palate. The aroma is nice with more woody notes than others.

This is a great Chinese oolong tea to enjoy with dinner, especially with spicy meals, and may in a much more satisfying way remind folks of the flavor from those tea bags that are throw at the bottom of Chinese take out. Granted this loose tea is far better tasting than tea-bag-brewed tea!

Before I wrote this review, I had to drink it 3 times in order to get some of the flavor notes right. I also confirmed with my friend that he was, in his own way, experiencing the same.

One thing I will say is brewing this tea is pretty easy, 212 degrees for 4 to 5 minutes…although I have found a lower 200 degree temperature helps keep this tea out of the “floral bitter zone” if steeped at a full 5 minutes or so.

Wuyi Tea is grown in the Wuyi mountains located in China’s Fujian Province. The leaves are dark brown and have a sort of length-wise twisted shape that open up into large leaves once fully steeped. The liquor produces a nice golden brown color with a hint of copper along the sides.

In the past 2 years this variety has earned a somewhat misleading reputation in the online beverage world which claims it to be a miracle fat burner. I won’t get into this debate on this page however…see here for more information about that

I like this tea and believe it requires a couple of cups to fully get used to. This is not a bad thing though, and as one reviewer puts it; it brings the subtle complexity out reminding them of a rainy day in the mountains. I agree!

This tea is a good starter Oolong tea that if any will eventually find its way into your collection in a larger size. Great to share with friends along with your tea knowledge!

Are you searching for wu-yi tea with hopes of losing weight, or is it because you want to simply discover a new variety of tea?

brewed loose oolong tea
Before you spend (over-spend actually), your money on these hyped wu-yi products, please take a few moments and read this informative article discussing what this tea really is all about, and how regular loose leaf oolong tea can provide the same, if not better weight loss results, and why it simply tastes better too.

Full Article:

After researching the many teas that I enjoy, wu-yi tea is popping up a lot lately along with the promises from those who are selling it that it can dramatically make you lose weight.

While some out there remain legitimate, others seem to be really milking it, and the truth is, if you’re not careful, expect either no results, or maybe to even gain a few pounds concerning this tea! This is explained below…

What Is Wu-yi Tea?

Wu yi tea is a variety of oolong tea that is grown in the Wuyi Mountains located in the Fujian Province of the north-western part of China. There is nothing special about these varieties of tea except for the fact that they will give you a truly unique flavor! It is important to state that All tea provides similar benefits, whether it be weight loss or not, so do not expect to achieve anything that noticeable by drinking some of these hyped wu-yi products.

Wu-yi tea can indeed help you shed pounds, but going back on what I stated above, this tea may have the opposite affect for some, and here is why.

Some sellers of wu-yi tea claim it to be a great fat reducer, but believing that it alone will achieve this task may hurt your results! Proper dieting and exercise is very important, and should be accompanied with your doctor’s recommended instructions for consuming this tea.

The reason this variety of oolong tea is getting attention is because oolong tea has a high polyphenol count. Maybe even greater than green tea! What these natural plant polyphenols do is stimulate an enzyme in our bodies that helps dissolve triglyceride (a natural fat in tissue). This action is called thermogenesis and is the act of the body “heating up”, causing more calories to burn…which equals weight loss.

Since ALL tea comes from the same plant, all types and varieties have these polyphenol properties…however, oolong tea contains a bit more due to the processing it goes through, and it is my guess that these wu-yi products are specifically processed to contain even more. But please do not believe that the results will be night and day.

All tea is good for you, and remember that diet and exercise should be part of your daily routine if you are trying to shed pounds. I believe that folks should drink tea for the sole purpose of flavor, culture and enjoyment rather than just for the benefits.

Loose leaf oolong teas offer many varieties, and each one has the ability to help you lose weight: Chinese and Taiwanese alike. They taste great when brewed from the whole and can provide a lifetime of drinking enjoyment!

Where To Get Oolong Tea?

Oolong tea can usually be found at some health food stores. Problem is, the tea can sometimes be old, giving folks a bad impression on loose leaf tea. Buying tea online is easy and convenient, but again, the age of the tea sold can make a huge difference in taste and health benefits.

Drinking any tea loose leaf style is without a doubt the best way to achieve true flavor and benefits; stay clear of tea bags, especially if brewing subtle varieties such as certain white, greens, and oolongs.

As linked above, a good tea merchant I have come across is Adagio Teas. This store offers a nice selection of products as well as quality fresh teas, including oolongs. There are helpful customer reviews, and impressive shipping times too.

So yes…while it is a FACT that wu-yi tea will help you lose weight, it remains FICTION that it will do it all by itself. The purpose of this article was to help folks get the facts behind the hype.